Eli Lilly and Company / Immunocore Limited

Multiple solid tumor cancers (lead candidate IMCgp100/tebentafusp in metastatic melanoma)

112K US cases/yr

Disease Overview

ImmTACs are soluble bispecifics that combine an affinity-enhanced T-cell receptor against an HLA-presented tumor peptide with an anti-CD3 effector arm, redirecting polyclonal T cells against intracellular tumor antigens that conventional antibody-based bispecifics cannot reach. The platform addresses a wide range of solid tumors but is HLA-restricted (largely HLA-A*02:01 in early programs).

Competitive Landscape

In April 2014, T-cell-engaging bispecifics were emerging as a credible competitor to antibody-based checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T. Amgen's blinatumomab (BiTE, anti-CD19/CD3) was nearing FDA approval in ALL, validating the CD3-engager mechanism. Immunocore's ImmTAC platform was differentiated as the only soluble TCR-CD3 bispecific addressing intracellular HLA-presented antigens, while CAR-T leaders Juno, Kite, and Novartis pursued surface antigens. Within months Immunocore had stacked four major-pharma collaborations - Lilly (this deal, $45M upfront, $320M milestones), GSK, Genentech, and AstraZeneca/MedImmune - making it one of the most syndicated platforms in immuno-oncology that year. The Lilly pact specifically gave Eli Lilly access to a category where it lagged Merck (Keytruda), BMS (Opdivo) and Roche (Tecentriq) in checkpoint inhibitors. What changed: the deal cemented Immunocore's option-and-license model and funded platform expansion that ultimately produced tebentafusp, FDA-approved January 2022 for HLA-A*02:01+ metastatic uveal melanoma - the first TCR-based therapy approved for a solid tumor. Lilly later terminated the collaboration in 2022 with no Lilly-branded ImmTAC reaching market, indicating mixed buyer-side outcome despite platform-level validation.